+ Add Course Calculate GPA Reset

Law School GPA

Enter your courses to see your law school GPA

Aspect	Undergraduate	Law School
Grading System	Absolute (earn what you achieve)	Mandatory curve (forced distribution)
Typical A Range	Top 20-40% can earn A's	Top 10-15% only (curve limited)
Assessment	Multiple exams, papers, projects	Single final exam (often 100%)
Competition	Moderate among classmates	Intense (direct competition)
Class Rank	Optional to share	Published, publicly known
Career Impact	Important for grad school	Determines entire career path

Typical Law School Curve Distribution:

• A/A- (3.7-4.0): Top 10-15% of class only
• B+ (3.3): Next 15-25% of class
• B (3.0): Next 30-40% of class (median)
• B- (2.7): Next 15-20% of class
• C+ and below (2.3 or lower): Bottom 10-15%

Note: Specific curves vary by institution and sometimes by year (1L curves often stricter than upper-year).

⚠️ Critical Reality: Law school GPA determines your legal career more than any other credential. The curve means you're competing directly against classmates—their success limits yours. A single exam can drop or raise your GPA by 0.1-0.2 points, significantly affecting class rank and opportunities. Unlike undergraduate where improvement is always possible, law school 1L grades often set your trajectory permanently since they weigh heavily in cumulative GPA and early job recruitment.

Grades determined by mandatory curve; calculated across all JD coursework

Law School Grading Specifics:

• Mandatory Curve: Professors must distribute grades according to school policy
• Single Exam: Most courses graded entirely on one final exam
• Anonymous Grading: Exams identified by number, not name
• Class Rank: Published percentile ranking affects recruiting
• 1L Weight: First-year grades disproportionately impact cumulative GPA

Course	Grade	Grade Points	Credits	Quality Points
Contracts	A-	3.7	4	14.8
Torts	B+	3.3	4	13.2
Civil Procedure	A	4.0	4	16.0
Criminal Law	B+	3.3	3	9.9
Legal Research & Writing	A	4.0	2	8.0
1L FALL TOTALS:			17	61.9

1L Fall Semester GPA:

1L Fall GPA of 3.64 – likely top 15-20% (very strong start)

Critical Note: This 3.64 GPA represents exceptional 1L performance given the mandatory curve. At most schools, this places the student in the top 15-20% of the class, making them competitive for law review, summer associate positions at major firms, and judicial clerkships. 1L grades are the most important for legal employment because firms recruit during fall of 2L year based primarily on 1L performance.

⚖️ Law School Reality

Law school GPA's impact cannot be overstated. Unlike other graduate programs where connections, research, or skills matter equally, legal hiring remains extraordinarily GPA-driven. The 1L year—just two semesters, often just 5-6 exams—determines your trajectory. Firms recruit 2Ls based almost entirely on 1L GPA since students lack legal experience. This creates path dependency: strong 1L GPA → BigLaw summer associate → return offer → BigLaw career → partnership/in-house opportunities. Weak 1L GPA closes doors that rarely reopen regardless of later excellence. Treat every 1L exam like your career depends on it—because it does.

⚖️ Quick Law School Calculation

✅ Law School GPA Tips

• 1L GPA disproportionately impacts cumulative since it's ~1/3 of total credits
• Single exam determines entire course grade—no ability to recover mid-semester
• Mandatory curve means you're competing directly with classmates
• Class rank matters as much as absolute GPA—top 10%, 25%, 50% are key thresholds
• Most schools publish rank; employers request transcripts showing percentile
• 2L/3L grades matter less for employment but still affect cumulative and honors
• Pass/Fail strategically in upper years to protect GPA (if allowed)

❓ What's considered a good law school GPA?

Context matters enormously—school rank and curve stringency. At T14 schools: 3.7+ = top 10% (exceptional, BigLaw guaranteed), 3.5-3.7 = top 25% (strong BigLaw prospects), 3.3-3.5 = median to top 1/3 (competitive regionally), 3.0-3.3 = below median (challenging but viable). At lower-ranked schools, standards shift: top 10% may require 3.8+, and median BigLaw placement demands top 5-10%. Absolute GPA less important than class rank. A 3.4 at Yale (top 25%) opens more doors than 3.7 at Tier 3 school (top 10%). Always contextualize GPA with school reputation and rank.

❓ How much do 1L grades matter compared to later years?

1L grades are disproportionately important for legal employment. BigLaw firms recruit 2L summer associates during fall of 2L year—decisions based almost entirely on 1L GPA since students lack meaningful experience. These 2L summer positions convert to full-time offers for 90%+ of participants, essentially determining career trajectory. 1L grades also determine law review eligibility (grade-on after spring semester), which remains permanently on resume. While 2L/3L grades affect cumulative GPA and graduation honors, they matter far less for employment. Exception: students seeking federal clerkships or academic positions need sustained excellence. For most career paths, strong 1L performance followed by adequate upper-year grades suffices for success.

❓ Can I recover from poor 1L grades?

Mathematically yes, but career-wise challenging. 1L represents ~30-35 credits of typical 85-90 credit JD. Earning straight A's (4.0) for remaining 55-60 credits can raise 2.8 1L GPA to ~3.4 cumulative. However, BigLaw recruiting occurs before grade recovery. Firms interview 2Ls based on 1L performance—by time you've improved GPA through 2L/3L excellence, initial recruitment window closed. Recovery strategies: target smaller firms not participating in OCI, leverage geographic ties and networking, pursue government/public interest where mission fit matters more, consider judicial clerkships post-graduation demonstrating capabilities. Strong upper-year performance can lead to lateral opportunities later, but initial employment more difficult without strong 1L foundation.

❓ How does the mandatory curve work?

Professors must distribute grades according to predetermined percentages. Typical curve: median B/B+ (3.0-3.3), only 10-15% receive A/A-, specific percentage required for each grade. This means absolute performance doesn't determine grade—you're ranked against classmates. Everyone could write perfect exams; still only top 10% get A's. Conversely, everyone could perform poorly; someone still receives highest grades. Curve makes law school zero-sum competition: classmate's success literally limits yours. Some schools use "soft" curves (guidelines not mandates) for small seminars or upper-year electives, but 1L required courses face strict curves. Curve stringency varies: some schools set 3.3 median, others 3.0, significantly affecting grade distributions and job prospects.

❓ Should I include my law school GPA on my resume?

Include if competitive; employers will request transcripts anyway. Always include: Top 10-25% at any school, law review, significant honors. Generally include: Above median (3.0-3.3+) especially from respected schools. Consider omitting: Below median unless applying to positions where GPA matters less (government, public interest, small firms valuing other qualities). Never lie or inflate—firms verify transcripts and class rank directly with schools. If GPA is weakness, emphasize other credentials: moot court success, clinic experience, journal notes, networking. However, many firms use GPA cutoffs during initial screening, so omitting may trigger rejection. Better strategy: address lower GPA proactively in cover letters explaining extenuating circumstances or demonstrating other capabilities.

❓ Does law school GPA matter for lateral moves?

Less than initial employment but still relevant. For first 5-7 years of practice, firms consider law school credentials including GPA when evaluating lateral candidates. Strong academic record suggests intellectual capability and work quality. After ~7-10 years, practice experience, portable business, and reputation dominate hiring decisions. However, partnership decisions may revisit credentials—some firms emphasize pedigree. In-house positions vary: companies hiring from BigLaw assume credential screening already occurred; smaller companies or non-traditional roles may examine law school record more closely. Academic careers (teaching, judicial appointments, appellate practice) consider law school performance indefinitely. Law school GPA never disappears from transcript but its relative weight decreases as career progresses.

❓ What if my school doesn't rank students?

Most schools publish rank percentiles even if not exact rankings. Transcript typically shows: "Top 10%," "Top 25%," "Top 50%" etc. Some schools provide exact rank only upon student request or to employers directly. Schools claiming they "don't rank" usually mean they don't publish comprehensive lists, but still provide percentile information. Employers absolutely care about rank—if school won't provide, firms may request transcript with notation or contact registrar directly. Students in top percentiles benefit from ranking disclosure; those below prefer ambiguity but can't hide from transcript review. Some schools delay rank publication until after 1L summer recruiting, though OCI interviews occur before formal rank release, firms estimate rank from GPA and knowledge of curve.

❓ Can I retake courses or improve my law school GPA?

Generally no retakes allowed for passed courses. Unlike undergraduate programs with grade replacement policies, law schools typically don't permit retaking courses where you received passing grades. Some schools allow repeating failed courses (F or sometimes D), with both attempts appearing on transcript. Only way to improve cumulative GPA: earn higher grades in remaining courses. However, 1L curriculum is largely fixed and heavily curved, limiting improvement opportunities. Upper-year students can strategically select easier electives, take Pass/Fail options where permitted (doesn't help GPA but prevents damage), and excel in seminars with potentially more lenient grading. Reality: law school GPA largely set after 1L year since those ~35 credits represent major portion of 85-90 total required credits.

❓ How do employers verify law school GPA?

Firms request official transcripts directly from law schools. Application processes typically require transcript submission along with resume and cover letter. Many use standardized forms (like Symplicity) where students authorize schools to release transcripts electronically to employers. Transcripts show: every course, grade, credits, cumulative GPA, and often class rank percentile. Firms also verify law review membership and honors independently. Some employers contact registrars to confirm information. Lying about GPA or credentials constitutes serious misconduct—grounds for offer rescission, termination, and potential bar admission issues. Legal community is small; reputation matters enormously. Always be truthful about academic record.

❓ What matters more: law school GPA or law school rank?

Both matter but interact complexly. Top schools (T14): GPA matters most—median student from Harvard has better prospects than top 10% from Tier 3 school for most elite positions. School reputation opens doors; GPA determines which doors. Mid-tier schools: GPA becomes critical—must be top 10-25% for BigLaw consideration. Lower-ranked schools: Even top students face significant challenges competing for prestigious positions. Formula: (School rank) × (Class rank/GPA) = Opportunity set. Strong performance at respected school provides most options. Weak performance at top school still better than weak performance at lower-ranked school, but strong performance at lower-ranked school may beat weak performance at top school for some opportunities. Geographic market also matters—regional schools place well locally despite national rankings.

This law school GPA calculator and comprehensive guide was created by Adam Kumar, an educational technology specialist dedicated to helping law students track academic performance and succeed in competitive JD programs.